Catalogue of Safety Breaches at Bedfordshire Printing Factory Leads to Prosecution

A printing company has been fined £20,000 after an investigation into a worker's injury exposed a series of health and safety breaches at its Bedfordshire factory.

Flitwick firm Colpac Ltd and two of its directors - Terry Langton, of Huntsmead, Northampton, and Stephen Burton, of Kempston, Bedford - were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The offences came to light when a worker at the food packaging printing factory was injured trying to release a blockage in a machine. Sandra Aka, from Bedford, tried to retrieve a carton which was stuck in a window patching machine when her arm was caught between two rollers. Miss Aka, who was 20 at the time of the incident on 14 August 2008, suffered bruising and cuts to her left arm.

A HSE investigation into the incident found that Colpac had failed to provide Miss Aka with adequate training to use the machine.

Inspectors also uncovered a series of other safety failings, including electrical safety, machinery isolation, manual handling and machinery guard checks. Five prohibition notices were served ordering the company to stop some activities until risks to workers had been addressed. Four further improvement notices were later issued requiring Colpac to tackle less pressing safety matters.

Colpac admitted two health and safety charges when it appeared at Bedford and Mid Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court on 10 December 2009. The company was fined £17,000 for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, fined £3,000 for breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998, and ordered to pay £5,129 costs. Operations director Terry Langton admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (by virtue of Section 37(1)) and was fined £3,000. Manager Steve Burton admitted breaching Section 7 of the same Act and was fined £800.

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